Fellwood’s New Wave

THIS WEEK’S tsumani of grim economic news shouldn’t overwhelm one tiny island of calm in the storm.

On Tuesday, local leaders broke ground along West Bay Street in the city’s westside on the much-anticipated “Sustainable Fellwood” development.

That’s a public-private effort, made possible by $8 million in tax credits, to transform the dreary Fellwood Homes public housing project into a vibrant, mixed-used and environmentally friendly neighborhood of affordable housing.

Constructing new housing in the current economic climate may raise eyebrows in some circles, but not among those who will build and lease the 100 or so apartments in this conveniently located area just west of downtown.

There’s no slump in the number of people who need affordable housing.

Indeed, once this $50-million project is finished, don’t be surprised to see a rush of residents.

Some 40 percent of the units on the 26-acre, shaded site will be set aside for low-income residents who qualify for public housing.

Another 40 percent will be reserved for families who make up to $34,560 (60 percent of the average median income in this area). The remaining 20 percent of the residents will pay market rate.

The old government model of packing poor, often desperate people into concentrated areas of public housing has failed on many fronts.